People who have had major sinus surgery should consult their ENT doctor before undergoing the Covid-19 swab testing, a new research suggested. The findings of the study were published in the journal 'JAMA Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery'.
The issues include incorrect angling of the swab and inappropriate depth of insertion. If the swab angle is too high, a puncture may occur.
The sinuses can protect the skull base to a degree, said Dr Chen.
Injury from incorrect nasopharyngeal swab technique, while rare, may include cerebrospinal fluid leakage or severe bleeding.
Polymerase chain reaction via nasopharyngeal swabs is a test frequently used to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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